Fearday then set down the final three batters in the seventh – two by strike out – to record the save.

“We have a lot of trust in Colton,” Kreke admitted. “You saw what he can do. Coming on in relief just might be his role this spring.”

The Bulldogs collected just three hits in the game, but made them count.

Will Hoene got the first hit leading off the second inning. Mendella then walked and both runners moved up to second and third when Eli Link grounded out. That brought up Hotze, who took advantage of a drawn-in infield by grounding a base hit up the middle to put the Bulldogs on top 2-0.

SAHS made it 3-0 in the third. With two outs and a runner on first base, Hoene drew a walk and Mendella delivered a two-out bloop single to right to drive in the run.

“We call those kinds of hits backbreakers,” Kreke noted. “We might not have hit the ball off the wall, but we got those timely hits when we needed them. We want to take pride in getting those runners home from third base. Timely hitting is the key.”

The Bulldogs only had two baserunners the rest of the way – on a walk and a hit batter – but the pitching of Hotze and Fearday made that early lead stand up.

“We stress three things – great pitching, solid defense and timely hitting,” Kreke said. “Plus, we want to attack at the plate and on the bases. If we can do those things, we’ll be right where we need to be.

“We beat a good Class 3A team that is fundamentally sound,” Kreke added. “This was a great way to start the season.”

The Bulldogs will return to action Thursday with a game at Mahomet-Seymour and then return home to face Hustonville on Friday.